Events

She lived a modest life, and she left a major legacy. Carol
V. Beggs, a 1966 Hamline graduate and chemistry major, bequeathed her estate of
$2.5 million to her alma mater.

Beggs lost a difficult battle to ovarian
cancer at the young age of 62; her dying wish was that a Hamline graduate will
someday find a cure for the disease.

Beggs’ gift to Hamline, which is
tied for the fifth largest gift the university has received, has been earmarked
to provide scholarships for juniors and seniors at Hamline University who are
majoring in chemistry, to purchase upgraded equipment for use in the science
labs at Hamline, and to provide support to student-led research
opportunities.

“Carol Beggs was a pioneer, pursuing a career in science
at a time when that was uncommon for a woman, and she remains a role model for
young people today,” said Hamline University President Linda Hanson. “Her
generous gift to the university greatly expands the opportunities Hamline can
provide to its chemistry students in the areas of scholarship and research.
Hundreds of Hamline students—and our communities at large, which will be
impacted by our students’ contributions in the area of science—will benefit from
her legacy gift.”

Beggs attended Hamline University from 1963-1966. She
went on to work for a number of years as a chemist at 3M. From there, she spent
several decades as a chemist for the State of Wisconsin. At one time in her
career, she sought to invest in her coworkers’ stock picking club. The all-male
club declined her investment because of her gender. That did not prevent her
from sitting in on their meetings and taking what knowledge she could glean from
observing them. She used that to make her own stock purchases, which is how she
amassed a portion of her wealth.

“Carol never had any children of her
own to inherit her wealth. The recipients of this endowment become the children
she never had,” said Begg’s closest friend Lynn Beyler. “Her dream was that
someday one of those students would be able to find the cure for cancer. I want
to thank the students, in advance, for doing their part in making my friend
Carol's dream come true.”

To learn more about Hamline’s chemistry program
and opportunities for students, click here.